Discover the world without spending a fortune: affordable destinations, money-saving tips and budget hacks for backpackers and cost-conscious travellers.
In Europe, Albania, Bulgaria and Poland are the cheapest, often at 20–45 euros a day. Worldwide, Vietnam, Bolivia, Georgia, Indonesia and Morocco are among the most affordable countries. Travelling flexibly, booking in the off-season and eating like a local saves even more.
Budget travel is an art. It's not about doing without everything, but about investing wisely. Spend less on accommodation, more on experiences. Skip the tourist mark-up, eat like a local instead. Be flexible rather than choosing the most expensive time.
The result: you travel not only more cheaply but often more authentically. Eating in a street restaurant alongside locals teaches you more about a country than a five-star hotel. Staying in a hostel means meeting like-minded people from all over the world. And travelling by night bus instead of flying reveals landscapes others only glimpse through an aeroplane window.
The most important tip up front: your choice of destination determines 80% of your budget. In Vietnam you live like a king for €20 a day; in Switzerland that won't even cover lunch. Smart destination choice is the biggest lever for saving.
Europe doesn't have to be expensive. These countries offer fantastic experiences at small prices.
Bulgaria is one of the cheapest EU countries. A beer costs €1.50, a lunch in a restaurant €5–8. At the Black Sea, you can enjoy a beach holiday for a fraction of Mediterranean prices, and Sofia is an underrated cultural capital.
Portugal offers unbeatable value for money in Western Europe. Excellent food for little money (daily special from €7), beautiful beaches, and a café culture where an espresso still costs €0.70.
The absolute insider tip among budget travellers! Albania has dream beaches like Greece, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and warm hospitality – at prices that even backpackers find astonishing. A hearty dinner with wine costs €10–15.
Croatia is now expensive in the high season (July/August). But in May, June, or September, you can experience the full Adriatic experience at significantly lower prices. The old towns, islands, and national parks are just as beautiful – only without the crowds.
Poland's cities are hip, historic, and affordable. Krakow offers world-class culture at student prices, Gdansk has one of the most beautiful old towns in Europe, and the Tatra Mountains are a hiker's paradise. Pierogi meals from €4, craft beer from €2.50.
Beyond Europe and into adventure – these countries offer the best value-for-money experiences in the world.
Vietnam is one of the best travel countries in the world for little money. Street food from €1, night trains from €15, spectacular landscapes from north to south. The Vietnamese cuisine alone is worth the trip.
With over 17,000 islands, endless possibilities await: from the rice terraces of Bali to the temples of Borobudur to the Komodo dragons. Off the beaten path, Indonesia is extremely cheap.
The cheapest country in South America also offers some of the continent's most spectacular landscapes. The Salar de Uyuni is surreal, La Paz is crazy, and Lake Titicaca is magical. An Almuerzo (daily menu) costs €1.50–2.
Just 3 flight hours from Germany, but a completely different world. Colourful souks, breathtaking riads, the Sahara, and top-notch cuisine. A tajine in a restaurant costs €4–6, a riad room from €25.
The best-kept secret among travellers: Georgia has mountains like Switzerland, wine like France, food like heaven, and prices like Southeast Asia. Khinkali (Georgian dumplings) cost €0.20 each.
Wherever you go – these tips save you real money on every trip.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are often the cheapest days to fly. Shifting by 1–2 days can save €50–100.
Enter "Everywhere" as the destination and choose the cheapest month – this way you can find deals you would never see otherwise.
Activate price tracking and be notified when the price for your desired route drops.
Websites like urlaubspiraten.de, secretflying.com, and holidaypirates.de publish error fares and special offers. Subscribing to newsletters is worthwhile.
Travelling with hand luggage only saves €30–60 per leg with budget airlines. Packing cubes help fit everything into one backpack.
In hostels with communal kitchens, you can cook for yourself and save significantly on food. Many hostels also offer private rooms.
Through platforms like TrustedHousesitters, you can stay for free while looking after pets or homes. Particularly common in Europe and Australia.
Stay with locals for free and see the city through local eyes. Perfect for solo travellers looking for connection.
Booking.com and Airbnb often offer weekly or monthly discounts of 20–50%. It's worth asking for stays of 5 nights or more.
Hotels 15 minutes from the centre are often half the price. In many cities, public transport is so good that this is not a disadvantage.
The cheapest and best restaurants are those where no tourists sit. Away from the main streets, into the side alleys.
In Asia, South America, and North Africa, street food is not only cheap (€0.50–3), but often the tastiest food around.
In Southern Europe and South America, there are cheap lunch menus (Menú del día, Almoço): starter, main course, and drink for €6–10.
Bring a reusable bottle. In many countries, there are drinking water stations (refill.me). In Europe, tap water is drinkable almost everywhere.
Instead of an expensive hotel breakfast: bread, cheese, and fruit from the supermarket. Cheaper, often better, and you discover local products.
In almost every larger city, there are free city tours (tip-based). Usually led by locals and better than any audio guide.
In many cities, city cards with public transport and museum entry are worthwhile. But: Calculate beforehand if you will visit enough attractions.
Many museums have a free day (often the first Sunday of the month). Churches, parks, and markets are always free.
Taxis and Uber are convenient but expensive. Buses and trains are cheap and provide a more authentic experience of the city.
In many countries (Morocco, Turkey, Southeast Asia), bargaining is part of the culture. Be friendly but firm – often you can get down to 50–70% of the initial price.
What does a day cost in the most popular travel countries? Realistic budgets for three travel styles.
| Country | Backpacker | Midrange | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 15–25 € | 35–60 € | 60–120 € |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 12–20 € | 25–45 € | 50–100 € |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 15–25 € | 30–55 € | 55–130 € |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | 18–30 € | 35–60 € | 60–120 € |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 18–30 € | 35–55 € | 55–100 € |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 30–45 € | 50–80 € | 80–150 € |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 35–50 € | 55–90 € | 90–170 € |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 40–55 € | 60–100 € | 100–200 € |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | 30–45 € | 50–85 € | 85–160 € |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 40–60 € | 70–120 € | 120–250 € |
All figures are estimates per person per day. Actual costs vary depending on travel style, season, and region.
4 free HolidayGenie tools help you plan: Holiday Finder, Budget Calculator, Packing List and Travel Roulette. They run directly in your browser and complement the destination tips on this page.
These 5 tips help most, above all: Be flexible, Travel slowly and Live like locals. The details for each point follow below.
Flexibility is the most important currency in budget travel. Those who are flexible with dates, destinations, and accommodations will always find a bargain.
Slow travel saves money: Less transportation costs, long-term discounts on accommodations, and the opportunity to discover affordable local sources.
Eat where locals eat. Travel how locals travel. Buy where locals buy. The tourist markup can double your budget.
Note every euro (app or notebook). Only then will you see where the money flows and can take action in time.
Saving on food and experiences is wrong. Saving on accommodation, transportation, and shopping is right. Experiences are the reason you travel.
Frequently asked questions
The cheapest destinations in Europe are Albania (20–35 euros a day), Bulgaria (25–40 euros a day) and Poland (25–45 euros a day). Worldwide, Vietnam (15–30 euros a day), Bolivia (15–25 euros a day) and Georgia (20–35 euros a day) are among the most affordable countries. In Vietnam street food starts at 1 euro and hostels at 4 euros a night, while Albania offers dream beaches like Greece’s at a fraction of the price.
Choose flexible travel dates, as Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are often the cheapest days to fly. Use Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” destination and “Whole month” view to find the cheapest connections. Set price alerts on Google Flights to be notified when prices drop. Travelling with hand luggage only saves 30–60 euros per leg on low-cost airlines. Error fares published on deal websites can also be worthwhile.
Hostels with a shared kitchen are ideal, as you can cook for yourself and save on food. Many hostels also offer affordable private rooms. House-sitting via platforms such as TrustedHousesitters lets you stay for free. Long-stay discounts on booking platforms are often 20–50 percent from five nights. Hotels outside the city centre are often half the price if public transport is good. Couchsurfing offers free stays with locals.
The best tip is to eat where locals eat, away from the main tourist streets. In Asia, South America and North Africa, street food at 0.50–3 euros is not only cheap but often the tastiest food. In southern Europe and South America, set lunch menus (menú del día) with starter, main course and drink cost 6–10 euros. Breakfast from the supermarket instead of the hotel also saves a lot, and a refillable water bottle avoids buying expensive water.
Local public transport such as buses and trains is much cheaper than taxis or hire cars in most countries. Night buses and night trains also save a hotel night. In many cities, day or multi-day public transport passes pay off. Free walking tours on a tip basis exist in almost every larger city. Many museums have free days, often the first Sunday of the month, and parks, markets and churches are always free.
If you like Budget Travel, you may also enjoy Backpacking, Hidden Gems and Road Trips. For every holiday type we show the best destinations with travel season, budget and insider tips.
Discover the cheapest destinations in the world and plan your next trip – without breaking the bank.
